Characteristics of a Software Professional

At work, I have been challenged with the question “What are the most important characteristics of a software developer?“. This is a tough question, and no matter what you decide to include, you have to leave something out.

I’ve been part of software development projects in various companies. The successful projects teach you invaluable lessons. The dysfunctional projects even more so. Inevitably, a list of characteristics would include qualities I value and desire in my fellow colleagues, as well as characteristics I’d expect them to want in me. (So this is also a long todo list for me. ;)

To get some kind of structure, I decided on three main categories: Professionalism, Long-term code and Quality mindset.

Professionalism

Take responsibility

You are a professional developer, and professionals act responsibly. If things go wrong,
take responsibility. Understand why things went bad. Learn, adapt and make sure it
never happens again. When faced with a difficult choice, “do the right thing”. Optimize for the long run even if it results in more work today. Be a team player, even if this means saying no. Speak the truth.

Know your product

We’re part of a business. Without successful products, there will be no business.
Know your users and their needs. Use your product, use competitor’s products,
visit customers and watch them use your product (from purchase/download to
installation to day-to-day usage to upgrade to uninstall and so forth).

Long-term code

Communication

You write a line of code once, but it is read hundreds of times. Invest time to write code easy to read for others. Write code at the right level of abstraction, abstract enough for expressiveness but without hiding necessary detail. Adhere to design principles as
they capture proven ways to high-quality code. Apply design patterns to better communicate your intent.

Maintainability

Decouple the different parts of your software, on every level – sub-system, module, class and function. Write extendable code, so that you can add functionality with minimal change to existing code. Avoid technical debt, and repay debt as soon as possible. Interest has to be payed on all debt.

Proven functionality

Never deliver code unless you’ve proven it works. If you don’t test it, it will be faulty.
Write testable code. Make it testable from the start, later it will be too expensive. Automate your tests to run before check-in, after check-in and nightly. If the tests are not executed automatically, they will not be updated and soon be obsolete. Without automated tests, no-one will dare change any code. Write fast and reliable unit tests. Write realistic integration tests. For each new feature, write acceptance tests. Automate everything.

Quality mindset

Quality is your responsibility

You, as a developer, is responsible for the quality of the product. Other roles can help you spot problems or give you more time, but they cannot affect quality. Never ship anything without being certain of its correctness.

Find bugs early

Find bugs early in the development process. If a bug can be found by the developer, it should be. If you need tools, get them. If you need hardware, get it. If a bug is found late, understand why it was not found earlier. Fix the process so that bugs of this kind never slips through. Automate.

Fix it now

If you find a bug, fix it now instead of filing a bug report. Ask your colleagues to help out. You will save time. File bug reports on things that couldn’t be solved in half a day.
Do things properly the first time. If you don’t have time to do it right today, when are you ever going to find time? Give time estimates that allow you to produce quality products. Think about what is stopping you from being more productive. Fix it, and then move on to the next thing stopping you.

Skype has launched its web-centered customer beta to the world, right after starting it largely from
the United states and You.K. before this four weeks. Skype for Internet also now can handle Chromebook and
Linux for immediate messaging interaction (no video and voice however, those
demand a plug-in installation).

The increase of the beta provides assistance for a longer listing of dialects to help you bolster that overseas functionality